The Skeletons in My Closet

Saint-Aubin du Cormier, France

The name Cormier probably originated in the commune of Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier in the region of Britanny in the northwest of France. The town was founded in 1223 (early Middle Ages) when Peter I of Britain, Duke of Brittany, built a castle near a tiny village. It became one of his favourite places to spend his time because of the fresh air and the good hunting. In 1225 the Prince granted an edict which gave extensive privileges to area residents, including tax exemption, and use of the woods. The market, founded in 1227, was very popular dealing in honey, fabrics, wax, salt and farm implements. Already there were several inns in the village, as well as the prison of the Duke of Orleans.

Ruins of the Chateau of Saint-Aubin du Cormier (13th c)

Church of Saint-Aubin du Cormier.

Cormier ~ Generation 1

My grandmother MARGUERITE MARY CORMIER was born on July 10, 1904 in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick, Canada. I always thought she was from Bouctouche but Sainte-Marie is very closeby. She married STANLEY ELLISOctober 13, 1936 in St. Luke's Church, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. I have fond memories of my Nanny because she lived with my family from about the time I was 12, and then again for a short time after I was married and had my children. She grew up speaking French and often encouraged me to speak French with her. I never realized that this one trait would later be so significant in my research. It turns out that the Cormier family played a very special part in Acadian history, being one of the very first families to immigrate from France in the 1600's.

She died in 1983 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Stanley and Margaret (as she came to be known) had 6 children:

Robert John Ellis 1936 -

Jean Ellis 1937 -

Francis Ellis 1938 -

Marjorie Ellis

Clarence Ellis

Allan Ellis

St. Luke's Church, Saint John NB (photo taken by Greg Hickman)

Cormier ~ Generation 2

My great grandfather PIERRE M CORMIER was born in August 1872 in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent, New Brunswick, Canada. He married VIRGINIE BOUCHER.

He died on October 23, 1949.

Pierre and Virginie had 11 children:

Isadore Cormier 1903 - ?

Marguerite Cormier 1904 - 1985

Theodore Cormier 1905 - 1994

Joseph Meleme Cormier 1906 - 1971

Marie Melina Cormier 1907 - ?

Marie Cormier 1909 - ?

Philomene Cormier 1911 - ?

Fred Cormier 1912 - 1970

Angus Cormier 1920 - 1980

Emilia Cormier ? - ?

William Cormier ? - 1948

Cormier ~ Generation 3

MELEME CORMIER was born on August 20, 1848 in New Brunswick, Canada. He married COLLETTE HEBERT on November 27, 1871 in Bouctouche, NB.

Meleme died in New Brunswick.

Meleme and Collette had 13 children:

Pierre M Cormier 1872 - 1949

Thomas Cormier 1874 - ?

Josue Cormier 1876 - ?

Virginie Cormier 1878 - ?

Phelias Cormier 1881 - ?

Gillian Cormier 1881 - ?

Marie Cormier 1884 - ?

Emilienne Cormier 1884 - ?

Melene Cormier 1885 - ?

Emilie Cormier 1888 - ?

Levis Cormier 1891 - 1969

Ferdinan Cormier 1892 - ?

Alphee Cormier 1897 - ?

Cormier ~ Generation 4

EUSEBE CORMIER was born on December 12, 1812 in Bouctouche, NB. He married SCOLASTIQUE CAISSIE on December 23, 1835.

Eusebe died on March 28, 1853 in Bouctouche.

Eusebe and Scolastique had 7 children:

Michel Cormier 1836 - ?

Scolastique Cormier 1838 - ?

Ombeline Cormier 1842 - ?

Pierre Cormier 1844 - ?

Beloni Cormier 1846 - ?

Meleme Cormier 1848 - ?

Jacques Cormier ? - ?

Cormier ~ Generation 5

CHARLES CORMIER DIT CHARLOT was born about 1784 in Bouctouche, NB. He married ANGELIQUE GIROUARD.

Charles died on October 13, 1836.

Charles and Angelique had 8 children:

Charles Cormier 1803 - 1887

Joseph Cormier 1804 - ?

Appolinie Cormier 1806 - ?

Urbain Cormier 1808 - ?

Ursule Cormier1809 - ?

Eusebe Cormier 1812 - 1853

Suzanne Cormier 1815 - ?

Thaddee Cormier 1818 - ?

Cormier ~ Generation 6

JACQUES CORMIER DIT JACQUOT was born on March 7, 1749 in Beaubassin, Acadia, New France (Nova Scotia). He married MARIE OSITHE POITIER on January 14, 1770 in Ekoupahag, NB (now known as Kingsclear).

Cormier ~ Generation 8

PIERRE CORMIER was born on March 25, 1682 in Beaubassin, Acadia (New Brunswick). He married CATHERINE LEBLANCin 1703 in Beaubassin, Acadia.

Pierre died on July 17, 1730 in Beaubassin, Acadia.

Pierre and Catherine had 10 children:

Pierre Cormier 1704 - 1752

Marie Francoise Cormier 1706 - 1742

Pierre Cormier dit Pallete 1707 - ?

Jean Baptiste Cormier 1708 - 1776

Madeleine Cormier 1710 - 1771

Michel Cormier 1712 - 1757

Catherine Cormier 1714 - 1784

Marguerite Cormier 1718 - 1792

Anne Cormier 1720 - 1770

Agnes Cormier 1722 - 1798

Cormier ~ Generation 9

THOMAS CORMIER was born in 1636 in La Rochelle, France. He married MARIE MADELEINE GIROUARD about 1668 in Port Royal, Acadia, New France (Nova Scotia).

He died in 1689 in Beaubassin, Acadia.

Thomas and Marie had 10 children:

Marie Madeleine Cormier 1669 - ?

Francois Cormier 1672 - ?

Alexis Cormier 1676 - ?

Germaine Cormier 1680 - ?

Pierre Cormier 1682 - 1730

Claire Angelique Cormier 1684

Marie Cormier 1686 - ?

Agnes Cormier 1686 - ?

Jeanne Cormier 1688 - ?

Anne Marie Cormier 1674 - 1739

Cormier ~ Generation 10

ROBERT CORMIER was born in 1610 in La Rochelle, Manche, Basse-Normandie, France. He married MARIE PERAUD in 1634 in La Rochelle, France. In early 1644, during the 1st year of the reign of King Louis XIV, Robert, a master ships carpenter, made the decision to immigrate to the new world. The family sailed on Le Petit Saint-Pierre for Fort Saint-Pierre on Cape Breton, NS. They were bound as servants to Louis Tuffet, the commander of the fort. Their period of indenture was for 3 years, but Robert stayed on even longer, until 1650 and then moved on to Port Royal, NS.

He died on February 12, 1712 in Port Royal. Acadia (Nova Scotia).

Robert and Marie had 3 children (that we know of):

Thomas Cormier 1636 - 1689

Charles Cormier 1643 - ?

Jean Cormier 1643 - 1693

Cormier ~ Generation 11

ABRAHAM CORMIER was born in 1585 in St. Jacques de Dieppe, Normandy, France. He married CATHERINE LEMOYNE in 1609 in La Rochelle, Manche, Basse-Normandy, France.

Abraham died in 1628 in East St. Jacques de Dieppe.

Abraham and Catherine had 1 child (as far as we know), and that child is the progenitor of our entire Cormier family in Canada!